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In view of land’s vital importance as a foundation of societal livelihood and its position being at the heart of social and political interests and conflicts, increasing number of universities in Africa have been launching and expanding formal educational and research programs since the last two decades. The ongoing expansion of land governance educational and research programs are mainly driven by the need for the overall socio-economic development reforms at continental level in Africa. It is obvious that academia plays the leading role in producing and providing competent graduates that will in time contribute to the processes of land reform. As a responses and input to the reform process, East African countries where this study has focused on have been giving high attention and dedication to open and incorporate educational or training programs in the field of land governance. However, studies to examine and evaluate the contents and quality of the curricula in addressing inclusive land governance are limited at continental as well as at regional level. Thus this study is aimed to review the land governance related curricula launched in the higher education institutes of Eastern Africa Region (Eastern African Land Administration Network) from the point of addressing the issue of inclusive land governance. A desk review approach and qualitative content analysis method was employed to achieve the objective of the study. Finally, this review shows that there is a clear limitation or gap to incorporate topics related to inclusive land governance principles in the existing curricula. This clearly implies that the existing land governance challenges and social and political conflicts are partly attributed to the gaps in the existing curricula or educational programs launched at national and continental level. Thus, this review calls for universities in Africa to highlight the importance of incorporating topics on inclusive land governance and related issues in the review process as a means to manage land in a just, conflict-free land sustainable manner.

In view of land’s vital importance as a foundation of societal livelihood and its position being at the heart of social and political interests and conflicts, increasing number of universities in Africa have been launching and expanding formal educational and research programs since the last two decades. The ongoing expansion of land governance educational and research programs are mainly driven by the need for the overall socio-economic development reforms at continental level in Africa. It is obvious that academia plays the leading role in producing and providing competent graduates that will in time contribute to the processes of land reform. As a responses and input to the reform process, East African countries where this study has focused on have been giving high attention and dedication to open and incorporate educational or training programs in the field of land governance. However, studies to examine and evaluate the contents and quality of the curricula in addressing inclusive land governance are limited at continental as well as at regional level. Thus this study is aimed to review the land governance related curricula launched in the higher education institutes of Eastern Africa Region (Eastern African Land Administration Network) from the point of addressing the issue of inclusive land governance. A desk review approach and qualitative content analysis method was employed to achieve the objective of the study. Finally, this review shows that there is a clear limitation or gap to incorporate topics related to inclusive land governance principles in the existing curricula. This clearly implies that the existing land governance challenges and social and political conflicts are partly attributed to the gaps in the existing curricula or educational programs launched at national and continental level. Thus, this review calls for universities in Africa to highlight the importance of incorporating topics on inclusive land governance and related issues in the review process as a means to manage land in a just, conflict-free land sustainable manner.

Efforts towards slowing down coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission and reducing mortality have focused on timely case detection, isolation and treatment. Availability of laboratory COVID-19 testing capacity using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was essential for case detection. Hence, it was critical to establish and expand this capacity to test for COVID-19 in Ethiopia. To this end, using a three-phrased approach, potential public and private laboratories with RT-PCR technology were assessed, capacitated with trained human resource and equipped as required. These laboratories were verified to conduct COVID-19 testing with quality assurance checks regularly conducted. Within a 10 month period, COVID-19 testing laboratories increased from zero to 65 in all regional states with the capacity to conduct 18,454 tests per day. The success of this rapid countrywide expansion of laboratory testing capacity for COVID-19 depended on some key operational implications: the strong laboratory coordination network within the country, the use of non-virologic laboratories, investment in capacity building, digitalization of the data for better information management and establishing quality assurance checks. A weak supply chain for laboratory reagents and consumables, differences in the brands of COVID-19 test kits, frequent breakdowns of the PCR machines and inadequate number of laboratory personnel following the adaption of a 24/7 work schedule were some of the challenges experienced during the process of laboratory expansion. Overall, we learn that multisectoral involvement of laboratories from non-health sectors, an effective supply chain system with an insight into the promotion of local production of laboratory supplies were critical during the laboratory expansion for COVID-19 testing. The consistent support from WHO and other implementing partners to Member States is needed in building the capacity of laboratories across different diagnostic capabilities in line with International Health Regulations. This will enable efficient adaptation to respond to future public health emergencies.

This study is aimed to assess features of land governance arrangements in the Eastern Africa region. Comparative and qualitative research approach was employed to achieve the objectives of the study. The research was also conducted within the context of long standing research collaboration under the umbrella of the Eastern African Land Administration Network (EALAN). The Eastern African countries included in this study are those represented through respective institutions in the EALAN, namely: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. The findings of this research reveals that the region manifests diverse background of land governance arrangements where formal and informal actors and processes still important. The study also shows that the formal systems in most of the countries are not reaching large parts of the society yet. Due to the limitations of the formal systems, aspects of custom and informal authority structures exist and seem to be used by most people for conflict resolution and other transactions related to land. Therefore, more effort is required to make the formal systems more accessible, including altering current formal systems and making them less bureaucratic and more affordable for majority of the people in the region.